Therapeutic cold pack for hand, wrist and forearm

ABSTRACT

A device which is shaped like a mitt or a glove with separate sheaths for the thumb and fingers. The mitt or glove has surfaces for covering the palm and back of the human hand. Each of the palm and back surfaces is formed as a plenum which is filled with a heat exchange material. The heat exchange material is selected to provide cooling over a reasonably extended period of time, at an appropriate therapeutic temperature. The heat exchange material is preferably a phase change material such as a paraffinic phase change material having a phase change temperature on the order of 50 degrees F. However, other temperatures and materials are contemplated. The mitt or glove is made of a flexible plastic sheet material such as a tripolymer material or polypropylene. The mitt or glove is formed of four die cut sheets of the plastic sheet material which are shaped in the pattern of the outline of a human hand and forearm. The patterned sheets are stacked together and heat sealed together along their periphery. An opening is left between the palm plenum and back of the hand plenum so that the hand can be inserted into the mitt. Plenums are formed between the inner sheets and outer sheets which are left with filling openings through which the heat exchange is filled. The filling openings are then heat sealed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/933,289, filedSep. 18, 1997, U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,157.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a device for applying a therapeuticcooling effect to the hand, wrist and forearm. More particularly, theinvention is directed to a mitt or glove which fits over the hand, wristand forearm and applies a cooling effect.

2. Prior Art

Certain activities such as therapeutic massage or other extended use ofthe hands and fingers, such as sports or playing the piano, can resultin muscular aches and pains. The application of cooling temperatures tothe hands, wrist and forearm serves to provide relief from these achesand pains. Typical cold packs must be manually held in place and thusare not convenient to use, especially if relief is sought over briefintervals, such as between therapeutic massage sessions.

As explained below, the present invention overcomes the shortcomings ofthe prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device which is shaped like a mitt or a glove with separate sheathsfor the thumb and fingers. The mitt or glove has surfaces for coveringthe palm and back of the human hand. Each of the palm and back surfacesis formed as a plenum which is filled with a heat exchange material. Theheat exchange material is selected to provide cooling over a reasonablyextended period of time, at an appropriate therapeutic temperature. Theheat exchange material is preferably a phase change material such as aparaffinic phase change material having a phase change temperature onthe order of 50 degrees F. However, other temperatures and materials arecontemplated. The mitt or glove is made of a flexible plastic sheetmaterial such as a tripolymer material or polypropylene. The mitt isformed of four die cut sheets of the plastic sheet material which areshaped in the pattern of the outline of a human hand and forearm. Thepatterned sheets are stacked together and heat sealed together alongtheir periphery. An opening is left between the palm plenum and back ofthe hand plenum so that the hand can be inserted into the mitt. Plenumsare formed between the inner sheets and outer sheets which are left withfilling openings through which the heat exchange is filled. The fillingopenings are then heat sealed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIGS. 1 and 2 shows palm and back of the hand plan views of a device inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device taken along line 3--3 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows an environmental perspective view of a device in accordancewith the invention; and

FIG. 5 is an environmental perspective view of a second embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like elements are designated bylike numerals throughout, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a device in the form of amitt 10 having back side 12 and a palm side 14. The mitt 10 has heatseal 16 around the periphery of the mitt. Back side 12 is formed of twosheets 18, 20 which are filled with a phase change material 22 throughfilling port 24. Palm side 14 is similar to back side 12 and is formedof two sheets, 26, 28 which are also filled with a phase change material22 through filling port 30. The filling ports 24, 30 are heat sealed tokeep the phase change material inside. Opening 32 is provided at theproximal end 34 of the mitt 10 opposite the finger tip or front end 36.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device 10 in accordance with theinvention, showing the relative positions of the plastic sheets andphase change material.

FIG. 4 shows mitt 10 in use. A hand 40 is inserted in opening 32, suchthat the hand, wrist and forearm are subjected to therapeutic cooling.

In operation, the mitt 10 is placed in a refrigerator, freezer, cooleror other cooling environment having a temperature lower than the phasechange material 22 of the mitt 10. As a consequence, the phase changematerial 22 freezes. Once the mitt 10 is removed from the coolingenvironment, the temperature of the mitt 10 will rise by sensible heataddition until it reaches the phase change temperature of material 22.At that point, phase change material 22 will be in its solid phase andpreferably opaque. Thereafter, the temperature (cooling/freezing)remains constant until the phase change material has melted entirely.The phase change material is preferably translucent when melted. In use,the hand, wrist and forearm are subjected to a therapeutic cooling.Because of the shape of this mitt, it can be interchanged between theright and left hands.

The phase change material is preferably a proprietary mixture ofparaffinic phase change materials, having a phase change temperature onthe order of 50 degrees F. Such proprietary phase change materialmixture is available from Exothermal Technology Corporation, Melbourne,Fla. The plastic sheet material is preferably a tripolymer material orcan be polypropylene or any other flexible sheet material which is heatsealable and compatible with the phase change material and alsocompatible with thermal cycling by repeated freezing and thawing. Suchsheet material makes the need for recharging by refrigeration apparentby visual inspection. Suitable plastic material is available from PBPlastics, Mims, Fla.

Typical heat exchange materials and flexible sheet materials aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,559 to Dandliker, U.S. Pat. No.4,856,294 to Scaringe et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,222 to Colvin etal, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by referenceherein.

While a phase change material is preferred, gels or other heat exchangematerials providing a suitable therapeutic effect are contemplated.Moreover, while a mitt has been shown, it is contemplated that astructure having individual finger compartments can be made inaccordance with this invention.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the invention in use. It is in theform of a glove-shaped structure 50 for accommodating hand 40.Glove-shaped structure 50 has a front side and a back side each formedof two sheets and filled with a phase change material, such as shown inFIG. 3. Glove-shaped structure 50 is provided with a tubular thumbsheath 51 and separate tubular finger sheaths 52-55 at a front thereoffor the fingers and thumb. Sheaths 51-55 are sized for extendingsubstantially short of the thumb and finger tips, and have open distalends for allowing the thumb and fingers to project out. Sheaths 51-55provide a more snug fit around the thumb and fingers for improvedcontact with the skin and thus provide better cooling, and also free thetips of the thumb and fingers for movement or a better grasp on objects.

Although certain presently preferred embodiments of the presentinvention have been specifically described herein, it will be apparentto those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains thatvariations and modifications of the various embodiments shown anddescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention belimited only to the extent required by the appended claims and theapplicable rules of law.

I claim:
 1. A therapeutic cold pack for a human hand having a palm sideand a back side comprising:a glove-shaped structure for accommodatingthe human hand, said structure including a first plenum for covering thepalm side of the hand comprised of two heat-sealed sheets; a secondplenum structure for covering the back side of the hand comprised of twoheat-sealed sheets; said first and second plenums heat sealed togetherso as to form an enclosure for the hand and to provide an opening in towhich the hand may be inserted and removed; a plurality of separatetubular finger sheaths for accommodating individual fingers; and atubular thumb sheath for accommodating a thumb; wherein said first andsecond plenums are filled with a paraffinic phase change material havinga phase change temperature on the order of 50 degrees F.; and whereinsaid two heat-sealed sheets of said first plenum and said twoheat-sealed sheets of said second plenum are so shaped as to form saidtubular finger sheaths for accommodating individual fingers and saidtubular thumb sheath for accommodating the thumb.
 2. A therapeutic coldpack as in claim 1, wherein said phase change material is opaque when ina solid state and translucent when in a liquid state.
 3. A therapeuticcold pack as in claim 1, wherein said glove-shaped structure iscomprised of a plastic sheet material.
 4. A therapeutic cold pack as inclaim 1, wherein said glove-shaped structure is comprised of a sheetmaterial of a tripolymer.
 5. A therapeutic cold pack as in claim 1,wherein said glove-shaped structure is comprised of a sheet material ofpolypropylene.
 6. A therapeutic cold pack as in claim 1, which comprisesa phase change material and holding structure for which the need forrecharging by refrigeration is apparent by visual inspection.
 7. Atherapeutic cold pack as in claim 1, wherein said glove-shaped structureis shaped so as to fit either a right hand or a left hand.
 8. Atherapeutic cold pack for a human hand having a palm side and a backside comprising:a glove-shaped structure for accommodating the humanhand, said structure including a first plenum for covering the palm sideof the hand comprised of two heat-sealed sheets; a second plenumstructure for covering the back side of the hand comprised of twoheat-sealed sheets; said first and second plenums heat sealed togetherso as to form an enclosure for the hand and to provide an opening in towhich the hand may be inserted and removed; a plurality of separatetubular finger sheaths for accommodating individual fingers, saidtubular finger sheaths terminating in open distal ends for enabling saidfingers to project out; and a tubular thumb sheath for accommodating athumb, said tubular thumb sheath terminating in an open distal end forenabling said thumb to project out; wherein said first and secondplenums are filled with a paraffinic phase change material having aphase change temperature on the order of 50 degrees F.; and wherein saidtwo heat-sealed sheets of said first plenum and said two heat-sealedsheets of said second plenum are so shaped as to form said tubularfinger sheaths for accommodating individual fingers and said tubularthumb sheath for accommodating the thumb.
 9. A therapeutic cold pack asin claim 8, wherein said phase change material is opaque when in a solidstate and translucent when in a liquid state.
 10. A therapeutic coldpack as in claim 8, wherein said glove-shaped structure is comprised ofa plastic sheet material.
 11. A therapeutic cold pack as in claim 8,wherein said glove-shaped structure is comprised of a sheet material ofa tripolymer.
 12. A therapeutic cold pack as in claim 8, wherein saidglove-shaped structure is comprised of a sheet material ofpolypropylene.
 13. A therapeutic cold pack as in claim 8, whichcomprises a phase change material and holding structure for which theneed for recharging by refrigeration is apparent by visual inspection.14. A therapeutic cold pack as in claim 8, wherein said glove-shapedstructure is shaped so as to fit either a right hand or a left hand.